Browning & McDermott crowned Sportsman & Sportswoman of the Year

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High jumper Nicola McDermott and sprinter Rohan Browning were named Sportswoman and Sportsman of the Year for 2021 at Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness’ (SUSF) annual Sports Awards held in the Great Hall on Tuesday night.

Sydney University Athletics Club member McDermott soared to new heights to collect the silver medal in the women’s high jump at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

McDermott’s silver medal leap of 2.02m was a personal best, surpassing her 2.01m effort at a Diamond League meet in Stockholm a week prior to Tokyo. It also made her Australia’s best female high jumper of all time – no Australian woman had jumped two metres before.

She cleared 2,02m at her second attempt and just clipped the bar at 2.04m. Russian Mariya Lasitskene, the three-time world champion, won gold with a jump of 2.04m, while the bronze went to Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh with 2.00m clearance.

McDermott, 24, a Bachelor of Science student and SUSF Elite Athlete Program member, now has her mindset on the world record of 2.09m and perhaps a gold medal at the Paris Olympic Games in 2004. “It was such a dream, really,” McDermott said. “I went into this competition at the Olympics thinking that anything was possible, and I had faith enough to go whatever the height. Just (to) keep jumping because I really believed that I was able to be in that top three.”

Sydney University Athletics Club member Browning took a tad over 10 seconds to make his mark at the Tokyo Olympic Games. Browning ran a personal best of 10.01sec to win his heat of the 100m, which included some of the big names in world sprinting, including former Olympic and two-time world champion Yohan Blake.

Running in lane one, Browning made a great start and cruised past a bemused Blake at the halfway mark, becoming the second-fastest Australian over the distance and booking a berth in the semi-final.

The 23-year-old law student and SUSF Elite Athlete Program member also earned a new nickname: The Flying Mullet.

Unfortunately, Browning muffed the start in his semi-final and finished fifth in 10.09sec to miss out on a place in the final. “It was tough, I just never got out, and then I had my work cut out for me,” Browning said. “I felt like I came back well at the end of the race, but I left myself with too much work to do. It’s only 100m.”

See the complete list of 2021 Sports Awards recipients below.

Vice Chancellor’s Participation Program of the Year

  • Sydney Uni Sport & Fitness Intervarsity Competition

The Rosenblum Family award for the Male Club Administrator of the Year

  • Jack Thomas – Sydney University Netball Club

Pat Sharp award for Female Club Administrator of the Year

  • Adelina Romano – Sydney University Canoe Club

Coach of the Year

  • James Lees – Sydney Uni Australian National Football Club

Professionally Administered Club Coach of the Year

  • Paul Bruce – Sydney University Swimming Club

Club of the Year

  • Sydney University Kendo Club

Professionally Administered Club of the Year

  • Sydney University Boat Club
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